Family Cruises – Some Points to Consider

The family cruise market is buzzing with agents reporting an increase in interest from families for their offerings. The stereotype of cruises being only for OAPs no longer holds any ground. Modern cruises provide excellent entertainment for all members of the family. From waterparks to cinemas and casinos, there is lots to entertain those young and old. The Disney cruise is one that is particularly popular with kids (and big kids) and you can get great Disney cruise deals throughout the year.

However there are some points to consider when booking a family cruise.

• Health conditions of the particular cruise you book should be checked thoroughly. For example, some cruises won’t allow pregnant women on boards.
• Like any trip always check the additional fees. Always book travel insurance. Kids are lovely most of the time but they have a nasty habit of picking up illnesses at exactly the wrong time. Most travel insurers will refund the holiday if a member of the travelling party picks up an illness that makes them unable to travel.
• Another tip is to check the onboard prices. Drinks are notoriously expensive on cruises so be sure to check out the prices of food and drink when working out your costs.
• It is also worth having a look on the tipping policy on board the ship.

Great family cruise deals are available at a huge variety of locations so find one and enjoy.

UK Family Holidays with Haven Holiday Parks

If you’re looking for a family holiday, where both the adults and children in your party are carefully catered for, then why not take a look at one of Havens 35 award winning holiday parks. With over 40 years of hospitality behind them, you can trust that they know exactly what they are doing. Whether you want to just relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings or have some family fun, there’s so much to do at Haven.

Forget the cries of “I’m bored”, with daily entertainment and kids’ clubs suitable for tots to teenagers, there’s always something going on to keep the children (and adults) entertained. So whether you want to boo and hiss at a family pantomine or cheer on your favourite wrestler, there’s activities and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy. To make it even better, it’s completely free and optional, so you chose exactly what you want to do, after all it’s your holiday.

With every park offering an indoor and outdoor pool complex, free for guests use, you needn’t worry about the British weather getting in the way of the excitement. Whats more, with Haven’s poolwatch scheme ensuring that each area has a qualified lifeguard on patrol at all times, you can rest at ease that you and your little ones are in safe hands.

There’s an astonishing assortment of activities and sports for the whole family to try at Haven. Whether you want to stick to family favourites like football, tennis or golf, or try something new such as fencing or archery, theres facilities and opportunity to try them all. With this in mind, Haven has also launched mini sports. This presents children aged 3 - 8 with the chance to try different sports for free, with supplied equiptment and all under the watchful eye of qualified instructors.

.At night time, Haven comes to life with its 8-til-late evening entertainment.There’s soft drinks for the children and something a little stronger for the adults, there’s a fun atmosphere around in the admission free family showbar. With a vast array of acts showing from dance acts to character shows, exciting circus skills to caberet, there’s something to keep the whole family thrilled in.

There’s no need to worry about the fussy eaters in the family either, with an excellent range of on site eateries onsite, you won’t have to go far to find exactly what you’re looking for. You’ll find each of the food joints exceptionally suited for all members of the family, including babies and toddlers, with Haven‘s family focussed services. At no extra cost you’ll find bottle warming facilities, high chairs, bibs and wipes for little mouths and colouring sheets with crayons to keep children entertained. If you prefer to eat at home then you’ll find a fully stocked convenience store at hand, along with other helfuls such as ATM machines and a laundrette.

Whatever you’re hoping to find from your holiday, with fantastic locations and first class facilities, you’ll find at it an affordable price at Haven.

STOP PRESS:

Haven have some special offers available to those booking by 14 February 2010.

Half Price Early Summer Breaks – now from only £149 for the whole family
Save up to £200 off Easter School Holiday Breaks – now from only £169 for the whole family
1/3 off May Half Term Breaks – now from only £249 for the whole family

Click here for the Haven website or click on the banner below.

Speekee Spanish learning programme gets the young speaking Spanish

Despite Kirsty Young’s recent statements in the press about pushy parents sending their tiny tots to Mandarin and violin lessons being wrong, exposing your child to a foreign language from a young age DOES make it far easier for them to learn new languages in later life.

And being bi-lingual or multi-lingual is hugely beneficial. Speekee is a Spanish language programme that children as young as 2 can watch without the pressure of going to lessons – and thanks to its ‘total immersion’ approach, children quickly pick up the language without realising it.

We know of a 4 year old boy who has watched it a handful of times (apparently he asks to watch, rather than being prompted to watch) and he can now count to ten in Spanish, say ‘hello’, ‘how are you’ and ‘my name is’. He also knows a few of other words and he can sing along to all the songs. We are also told that his mother has also learnt a lot of Spanish by listening along with him, which helps with her New Year resolution to learn a new language!

This is a fab tool for families – especially those considering a sunny Spanish holiday this year after the freezing winter. It’s brilliant for home educators too.

Win a family adventure holiday with Chessington World of Adventures

To launch its brand new land, Wild Asia, Chessington World of Adventures has teamed up with wildlife enthusiast and broadcaster Nick Baker and tourist board VisitEngland to find families that take adventure to a different level.

Whether it is a trip exploring the rainforest, making mum hold a tarantula to overcome a fear of spiders, camping in your back garden or perhaps a trip around Britain to go on as many rollercoasters as you can – whatever adventure you have encountered we want to hear about it! If this sounds like your family or a family you know, nominate them now at www.chessington.com/wildasia and they could be crowned Britain’s Most Adventurous Family!

To apply or nominate a family you know, visit www.chessington.com/wildasia and in 200 words or less explain why you think your family deserves the title. Upload photographs if you have them to really show us why you think your family deserves to win.

Three families will be invited to a boot camp with Nick Baker at Chessington World of Adventures on Wednesday 7th April 2010 where exploration of the brand new land, Wild Asia, will be the name of the game. And the overall winning family will be crowned Britain’s Most Adventurous Family after the Boot Camp, walking away with a fantastic family adventure holiday!

Age limit: Please note children need to be between 4 and 14 to enter the competition.

Family holiday ideas

If you are planning bext summer’s holiday then why not take a closer look at Turkey, Majorca, or Egypt. There are so many interesting attractions and places to visit that everyone of all ages will enjoy their getaway and build fascinating memories to last a lifetime. Furthermore, they all provide excellent value for money.

TURKEY is surrounded by four seas, has the famous Blue Lagoon, many national parks, and over 8000 km of beautiful beaches. It is said that the waters of the Cesme peninsula are health-giving, and Dalyan has famous mud baths.

The holy cities of Harran and Sanli Ura, where Abraham is thought to have lived, have a 10,000-year heritage. Mount Ararat is said to be the resting place of Noah’s ark. King Antiochus’ mausoleum is on the top of Mount Nemrut, and in Didyma are the ruins of Apollo’s famous temple. The city of Troy was immortalized by Homer, and Moorish Istanbul has many special sights. King Mausolos’ mausoleum and the Temple of Artemis are two of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

The southern coast (known as the “Turkish Riviera”) is where you’ll find the most five star hotels and world-class golf courses. Many of these areas were originally small fishing villages.

You can take a guided cycling tour through pine forest trails, country paths, the Aegean Sea coastline, the Turquoise Coast, and more. The ancient cities and quaint villages feature folk music, castles, tombs, temples, theaters, art centers, colorful bazaars, and fish markets.

– Full details about Turkey Holidays

MAJORCA is in the Mediterranean Sea and is Spain’s largest island. It has amazing beaches, a warm climate, and the Tramuntana Mountains. The capital city of Palma de Mallorca has a giant Gothic cathedral, Arab baths, the Bellver Castle, and boutiques which feature beautiful linens, leather goods, perfumes, and porcelain.

Valldemossa has the Royal Carthusian Monastery, built in 1399, where Frederick Chopin wrote some of his masterpieces and George Sand wrote her A WINTER IN MAJORCA in 1838-1839 when they rented a monk’s cell. His piano is still there, and a 15 minute piano concerto is given. You can explore the cells, chapel, gardens, and in the pharmacy the potions and drugs appear the same as they did 100 years ago.

Take a train ride to Soller in a brass-fitted and mahogany-paneled vintage railcar, again almost a century old, through the mountain tunnels. It is a 1 1/2 hour trip, and there are five trains a day.

The Caves of Drach are one of Majorca’s most visited sites, and a boat trip through the world’s largest subterranean lake and huge cave system features a lighting system that sets off the stalactites and stalagmites.

- Full details about Majorca holidays

EGYPT is known for its Passage of the Red Sea in the Bible, and you can still go diving in this world’s northernmost tropical sea and explore it in a famous underworld adventure of over 1,000 species of marine life. Sharm el Sheikh on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula is a well-known diving center with the world’s northernmost coral reef and magnificent underwater sights that can be seen when snorkeling. The market in town is a delight for shoppers and features spice shops with their aromatic tastes and smells.

One must see the many pyramids including the Great Pyramid of Gaza, which is another of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and which is substantially intact. The Pyramid of Djoser was constructed in the 27th century BC and was the prototype for all the pyramids that were built after it.

Egypt’s biggest city, Cairo, holds the Egyptian Antiquities Museum with the world’s largest collection of over 120,000 Egyptian artifacts including gold, jewels, mummies, and is the home of the Tutankhamun collection.

You can go on a camel ride, explore the White Desert, and visit a Bedouin camp. You can attempt the difficult climb of Mt. Sinai and visit the St. Catherine’s monastery on the peak, where God was said to have spoken to Moses.

If you prefer to take a cruise down the Nile, the world’s longest river, there are many onshore excursions in many of the cities so that you are still able to view the superb attractions of this land.

- Full details about Egypt Holidays

Win Pom Bear Safe Walking Kits for Walk to School Month

Follow the Bear during Walk to School month

October is Walk to School month so leave the car at home and get the kids walking!

Kidszine.co.uk has teamed up with Pom-Bear to giveaway 10x Follow the Bear Safe walking kits (each worth £15). Each kit contains a Follow the Bear high visibility sports cap and book bag, so your child will be seen at all times on their way to and from school, plus a multi-pack of Pom-Bear potato snacks for your child to enjoy as part of a balanced diet.

Pom-Bear recognises the many benefits for kids of walking to school and offers the following safety advice for parents supporting Walk to School month.

Pom-Bear’s safe walking tips

1.     Teach your children the Green Cross Code and ensure they put this into practice every time they’re out walking. Children should not walk to school alone until they have learnt and confidently practice the code

2.     Where possible, walk on pavements, keeping well away from the curb, and always walk between your children and the traffic

3.     Make sure they can be seen at all times by using reflective and high visibility clothing. This is especially important at night and as the mornings and early evenings become darker during winter

4.     Hold their hands firmly at all times

5.     Teach them to pay attention when walking and never listen to personal stereo systems, use mobile phones or hand-held games

Pom-Bear is a fun teddy-bear shaped potato snack that children love. Deliciously crisp and light they melt in the mouth to give a unique taste. And, it’s one snack you won’t mind them having too. Each pack is made from the best quality potatoes and cooked with 100% Pure Sunflower oil making them an even lighter eat by further reducing saturated fat. Pom-Bear is also suitable for vegetarians and contains:

• No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives
• 25% less salt
• Now even less saturated fats. Pom-Bear Original potato snacks now have only 3% saturated fat
• Less than 100 calories per pack

Visit www.pom-bear.co.uk for more information about the Follow the Bear campaign.

For your chance of winning one of the Walking Kits please email the answer of the following question to ‘kidszine@xec.co.uk” and validate your entry by signing up to our newsletter here.

Question: On which Government site can you find out more about the Green Cross Code?  (clue visit http://pom-bear.co.uk/promotions/safe-walking-tips).

Competition ends Midnight 30 September 2009.

Family Holidays in Thailand

Sights and Tips for Family Holidays in Thailand

Thailand is one of the most unique countries in the world for a family visit. There are various different parts of the country to check out during a family holiday but there are some tips that should be used when getting ready for a good holiday to the area.

Visiting the jungles of the country is a great thing to do. There are many small villages in the jungle areas that are especially unique and feature all sorts of amazing sights and sounds of Thai culture. You can even ride the elephants in these areas that include Soppong, Udon Thani and Chiang Mai.

Enjoying the foods that are served around the country is also another thing that is a delight. Curry dishes and a variety of different fish-based foods are very popular around all areas of Thailand although of course near the coast seafood is a specialty.

Another good family activity is to visit the many temples that are scattered around Thailand. Various ancient Buddhist temples are located through cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai as well as in the more rural and country areas.

Many water sports activities are available throughout many of the beaches in the country. The famous Phi Phi Islands feature some of the most popular sites for diving and were used in the filming of the Hollywood movie “The Beach”.

Getting to Thailand involves a long plane trip will be required, with a typical nonstop flight on a carrier like Quantas or British Airways will last around twelve hours.

The last tip to use is to prepare for the weather. Temperatures tend to be very warm throughout the year in the country. From March to May conditions will be very humid and temperatures can be thirty-five degrees celsius. Average highs can get to be below thirty from November to February, and lows in the high mountain areas during that time can get to nearly zero overnight.

Kids Travel Free to The Isle of Wight with Red Funnel

Visit the Isle of Wight this Easter and enjoy a range of exciting seasonal activities and attractions - from feeding Tigers to winning up to £10,000 with Red Funnel’s Isle of Wight Treasure Hunt. You could also save up to £400 on accommodation with Red Funnel Holidays.

Red Funnel is offering FREE travel for children on the Red Jet Hi-Speed foot passenger service to the Isle of Wight, saving families up to £9.20 per child* between 4 and 19 April. Looking to take the car? Fares start from only £32 return for a car and up to 6 passengers. Onboard the Vehicle Ferry, kids will love getting creative; decorating eggs and designer Easter bonnets for their chance to win a chocolate Easter egg, or even a games console.

For more Easter themed excitement, head to Mottistone Manor or the Needles Old Battery to take part in old-fashioned Easter egg hunts. Or, for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, visit the Isle of Wight Zoo, home to ITV’s Tiger Island, and get up close and personal as you feed milk to a fully-grown tiger.

If the Easter egg hunts have whet your appetite for discovery, enter the Red Funnel’s Isle of Wight Treasure Hunt. for a chance to win up to £10,000! To enter, treasure hunters need to purchase a flexible or premium return car ferry ticket, then simply download the clues or podcast from the Red Funnel website www.redfunnel.co.uk and sail away across the Solent to the Isle of Wight to start hunting. The clues, dotted all around the Isle, will take voyagers to the Island’s most famous landmarks and off the beaten track, making for a fun day out for the whole family.

With so much to do, why not stay for longer? Red Funnel Holidays has some great Easter packages, with all holidaymakers receiving a 25% discount off crossings and those spending over £500 receiving a fantastic 50% discount.

Travelling to the Isle of Wight is easy with Red Funnel. Vehicle Ferries run regularly around the clock from Southampton, which is within easy reach of the M3 and M27, and the Red Jet Hi-Speed foot passenger service whisks visitors to the Island in just 23 minutes.

For more information about entry and reservations call Red Funnel on 0844 844 9988, visit www.redfunnel.co.uk.

Here is some small print about the offer.

Ferry travel is offered subject to availability. Terms and conditions of carriage apply. Up to two children (5-15 years) travel free when accompanied by an Adult or Senior Citizen. Available on the Red Jet service after 09:15am. Valid for Southampton departures only. Red Funnel reserves the right to withdraw this offer at anytime. Day returns only.

Holiday Swimming Academies Launched by First Choice

Last year, First Choice taught more than 7,000 children to swim on their family holiday. This summer, the tour operator is to launch its new Swim Academies, which aim to teach kids water confidence and vital skills in line with the ASA’s nationally recognised swim programmes.

The British Swimming Team’s success will inspire many a mini-Mark Foster or budding Rebecca Adlington, and with 92%* of children spending most of their time in the pool on holiday, the art of staying afloat and gaining confidence in the water is a vital skill to learn.

Available at all nine First Choice Holiday Villages, the Swim Acadamies will offer a range of swimming courses for children aged three and above, from beginner, through to novice and improver. All lessons will be taught by ASA qualified swimming instructors, in blocks of five 30 minute lessons, with no more than six children at any one time to guarantee each child gets the level of attention expected. All children taking part in group sessions can receive a Kellogg’s ASA Award, including a certificate and badge, plus a free Swim Academy goodie bag. Private one-to-one classes will also be offered for both children and adults looking to improve their swimming ability.

The Swim Acadamies provide an excellent opportunity to kids big and small to meet new friends, while being taught valuable water safety skills.

First Choice offers family holidays staying seven nights at the 4 Sun Holiday Village Algarve, one of the properties featuring the Swim Academy, from £1069 for a family of four, based on two adults and two children sharing on a self-catering basis, departing from London Luton on 14th May 2009.

Price includes one free child place,** return flights, accommodation, in-resort transfers, taxes/ charges and fuel supplement. Prices exclude all optional extras and insurance. Subject to availability, terms and conditions apply. For more information, visit www.firstchoice.co.uk/holidayvillage or call 0871 664 9019.

Half Price Kids with Sunsail Clubs’ Family Holiday Deal

Sunsail has announced a great family holiday offer for February with children up to 17 years travelling for half price to their BeachClubs in Greece and Turkey this summer, and so offer savings of more than £700 per family.

Sunsail Clubs offer award-winning free Kids’ Clubs for children aged 2 to 17, which ensure that every child learns new things, makes friends and above all has lots of fun. Free evening childcare is also available on many evenings, giving parents the opportunity to take a little time out for themselves too.

New for 2009, Sunsail are offering even more childcare options, with a pre-bookable private nanny service available for parents wanting one-to-one care throughout their holiday. Baby bundle packages have also been introduced, enabling parents to have everything from wipes to swim nappies ready and waiting for them on arrival.

For adults, Sunsail Clubs has plenty to offer too. Enjoy a whole host of activities, from tennis and windsurfing to sailing or fitness classes, or simply luxuriate in the spa.

One child under the age of 17 travels for half price when accompanied by two full paying adults.

Package includes half board accommodation, return flights and transfers, Kid’s Clubs, plus use of Sunsail’s watersports equipment, fitness, mountain biking, tennis, spa and lots more. Offer excludes Club Colonna, Antigua and is subject to availability.

Saving of £729.50 based on two adults and two children aged 13 - 17 staying in two twin rooms at Club Javelin, departing 1 August 09.

For reservations contact Sunsail Clubs on 0844 463 6578 or visit www.sunsail.co.uk/clubs

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